The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-09
For a BoatlOad of Newspaper
Reporters,
SHHO FACED TWENTY MUsKETS.
One of Those Narrow Escapes to
Which the Lives Observation-Disclosures
Have Been Subject.

lOOl udIug eApiOlLi III mdy 1ocoI III az
taching empty torpedo case to the
keel of the English man, of.war Garnet,
which was an anchored in the bay, off
Staten Island, watching the Russian
war vessel, Strelok, which lay off the
foot of Twenty-third Street, in the Hud-
son River. 1t will be remembers that
war was then imminent between Eng
land and Russia over Central Asian
boundaries, and the Garnet had orders
to follow the StrelOE and keep the Ad-
miralty posted upon her movements.
Boyton had an cid grudge against
the English Admiralty by reason of the
fact that he had once given an ex-
hibition before it of his life-saving
rubber suit, with a view to supplying
them to the English navy, and the Brit
ish tars had laughed at it. To heal the
laceration of his tender sensibilities
brought about by their ridicule, the
reckless swimmer decided to give the
English nation a practical Illustration
of the utility of his rubber suit by 60
ing out in it to the Garnet. and placing
an empty torpedo under her, the lesson
being that had the torpedo been loaded,
the man of-war'S men would have been
scattered along the coast from Fort
WadsWorth to Perth Amboy.
On May 9Th, the Captain called at
the offices of various morning news
papers, and informed the city editors
thereof, with much mystery, that he
was going to perform a feat that night
that would eclipse the achievements of
all the dare devils of ancient or modern
times, and that he desired a reporter
~ him ~,
order that his exploit might be properly
q reporter each from the Times, the
Sun, the World, the Herald, the Tribune
and the Journal met, like the hero in
the song, with heart for any fate"
BoYroN's DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING.
Boyton was shrouded in mystery up
to the tips of his ears, and he refused
to divulge his secret until we arrived at
the scene of action. The Garnet lay off
the Staten Island shore near Tompkins-
vile, and it was not until we had en-
barked in a ferry boat st the Battery
and gathered in a solemn conclave on
the forward deck that he told US that
his plan was to fasten an empty torpedo
on the keel of the man-of-war and then
send them word of his exploit in the
morning.
1 am not sure. whether Boyton fully
realized the peril of this foolhardy feat,
but / am positive that the reporters did
not. They did not on stop to think
that when a sentinel on deck of an
English man-of-war found boatload
of men at her keel, in the waters of
bay close to the headquarters of the
Fenian Brotherhood, the situation would
probably result in a volley first and an
inquiry afterwards. We only deter
mined to go with him and see the fun.
AS it turned out, only the fact that
particularly stupid lookout happened to
be on deck that night saved our lives in
the first place; while the unusual mod
Grafton of the officer who overhauled US
later was the only circumstance that
prevented our going home in separate
boxes as a result of that encounter.
Boyton had several friends with him
besides the reporters, and the empty
torpedo with his rubber suit was carried
IN bag. Staten Island, as most New
Workers know. used to be favorite
place for prize fights. Therefore, when
we arrived at Tompkinsville report
went forth that gang of pugilists
were on the way TO have pri-
fdIG Hill uuue1 UChlSA laws
of the Marquis of Queensberry;
and straightway the rumor few, so
that in ten minutes three-fourths of tt e
population of the island was about the
little hotel that we made temporary
refuge. There was nothing to do but
wait for them to retire, and / have ever
since been impressed with the belief
that patience is the prevailing charact-
eristic of Tompkinsville.
But soon after o'clock Boyton put
on his. rubber suit, which made him
look particularly fat turtle, and
starteo ont toward the Garnet. which
lay half a mile off the shore, her bulls
eyes throwing a stream of 'iprling light
from her keel toward the shore. The
reporters had hired boatman
to follow Boyton, and, as the
boat was small, our weight bro ut
her sides almost level with
water. Boyton's friends prudently
manned on shore. The night was da1
for there was no moon-and The
Gnraet'S lights were our only guide
Silently Boylon padded himself out to
the man-of- war, and our little row
boat follow him cl.selv. We saw q
marine pacing tie deck, but he did not
even hear US until the captain had
fastened the torpedo case in the
rudder-chain and was padding away.
Then the guard rushed to the side.
What boats that2 Speak qUickr
he cried, leveling MS rife.
WHAT THE SENTINEL DID.
No one made any reply, and our
boaGinan began to row toward the
shore. We learned aIte-ward that the
sentinel was severely Gisc.p pinned for
not firing at Us at that moment As II
was. we heard q series Of Quick orders
given. lights & shed all over Tie vessel,
aud in q moment . SteaG launch.
manned by twenty men, II command
of 2 bare-headed cfiver. doomed IL pur-
suit. The lau0ch bad Been ready with
steam up, on The other side Of the yes